JUST BREATHE
- Inemesit Udoh
- Jul 2, 2015
- 2 min read
Breathing is something most of us take for granted, well that's probably because we've been doing it since we were born right....but are we really doing it right? Do we breathe long enough? Do we breathe deeply enough? What posture do we maintain when we breathe, does it promote or prevent the free flow of air in and out of our lungs? Proper breathing ensures that there is adequate supply of oxygen to vital tissues and organs and maintains high metabolism, so it is safe to say that proper breathing is essential to good health.In yoga, Pranayama is simply described as the control of energy or vital life-force through breath regulation. What this means is that with the right technique, we can exploit breathing as a tool with which to control the mind, maintain awareness of the body, hold the yoga asanas (postures) longer and even maintain calm when facing panic-worthy situations.
Let's try this breathing exercise and see how good proper breathing can make you feel.
Sit on your mat with your shins crossed out in front of you, or you can take any other position you are comfortable with.
Place your hands gently on your knees, and close your eyes.
Keep the spine erect with the hips, shoulders and the back of the head in line.
Keeping the lips closed, Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, observe as the air travels through your nostrils, down your throat, chest, trachea and completely fills the lungs. Be aware of your lungs expanding and relaxing. Now hold the breath for a few seconds then exhale completely, observing as the air flows out of the lungs through the nostrils.
Let the exhalation last longer than the inhalation to promote proper elimination of carbon dioxide and make room for fresh oxygen supply.
Practice this for about 1-3 minutes, all the while being aware of the rhythm of your breathing. When you're ready, slowly open your eyes, uncross your shins and see how refreshed you feel.
Taking out 5 minutes of your day to just breathe properly, will not only improve your mood and body functions but will greatly impact your yoga practice.
"Breathe in deeply to bring your mind home to your body"
-Thich Nhat Hanh
Comments